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Subject: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Nogs Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:25 PM In Stan Hugil's listing on this song, one verse goes:
And what do you think they had for cargo Though I love the song, I haven't the slightest what 'black sheep' refers to. Nor do I know which embargo is meant. Any help? Nogs |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: GUEST,Barry Finn/after work & on his own time Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:30 PM Slaves |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:32 PM Slaves - being taken to America past the ships of the British Navy which were trying to stop the Slave Trade. |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: MMario Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:37 PM off the cuff I would say either a) slaves or b) slavers from the confederate states |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Amos Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:41 PM And who d'ye think was the skipper of her? Blow, boys, blow! 'Twas Jack McGraw, the n**r lover Blow, my bully boys, blow! Slaving on the triangle trade is my bet. |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:42 PM The Royal Navy enforced the anti slavery laws with frigates, The profits for slavers who broke the embargo were very high and it was very profitable. Unfortunately, it could not be stopped for many years. Sadly, many British ships engaged in this horrendous crime against humanity; and many sailors quit or went mad from drink and remorse after sailing on them. I recommend the movie Amistad to anyone who would like to see an example of this trade. Although a horrible tale it is fairly historically accurate; with a wonderfull and talented cast of actors. The Amistad was a Schooner that took slaves off a notorious Spanish embargo runner; and they escaped by killing the crew except for two guys. Who instead of sailing back to Africa, sailed the schooner to America.. The rest is a good story to read or watch the movie. Yours, Aye. Dave (never a slaver) |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Amos Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:52 PM Odd, the different menus representing the gastronomical suffering of sailors. "Congo River" complains of a monkey's arse and a sandfly's liver on the messhall table, while "Blow, Boys, Blow", a first cousin, has it as "Pickled eels' feet and bullock's liver. " First time I heard it, it was fried dogs' balls and donkey liver, but that is a bit strong for modern appetites!:>) Amos |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: GUEST,Barry Finn Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:53 PM The cargo of Black Sheep came from the West African coast & rivers & the shores & banks of those waters were one of the points in the triangle of the slave trade. The yankee clippers painted their masts & yards white & "they shown like silver, she fires her guns, can't ya hear the racket". From Africa they'd sail to the West Indies & other islands groups & sell off the slaves & bring Molasses (see The Great Molasses flood-Boston) to New England. Barry |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Amos Date: 26 Jan 00 - 05:55 PM And from Boston they'd make rum of it for the third product in the triangle. Blackbirds, molasses, and rum. What a way to make a living, eh? Rough life. Amos |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: GUEST,Barry Finn Date: 26 Jan 00 - 06:00 PM Hi Dave, nice suggestion bout the Amistad. A replicia is currently being built in the yard of Mystic Seaport Museum for any who's interested. Barry |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Nogs Date: 26 Jan 00 - 06:41 PM Many thanks folks. I was afraid that 'slaves' were the answer. The version that I know is about a Yankee ship, as GUEST,Barry Finn mentions above. My recollection is that the slave trade was forbidden by the British long before the Americans, so did the British enforce to embargo against American ships, or is this just an American ship getting inserted into another song, albeit historically inappropriately? |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Marc Date: 26 Jan 00 - 07:17 PM Importing slaves was also illeagle In the U.S. long befor the chantey was popular. however the practice did continue into the mid 19th century. I would also like to comment on the Amistad. Although not a bad movie it's very misleading. The Amistad was not involved in the slve trade at all as far as current research has been able to uncover. She was a coasting schooner employed in carrying cargo on the coast of Cuba. On the voyage in question Her cargo happened to be captive people, with papers stating that they were Cuban natives. As it was also illegal for spanish colonies to import. The captives did revolt, were capture and tried for murder & piracy. The U.S. courts eventually fond them to be infact not Cubans. And subsequently judged them to be kidnapped And acting in self defense. |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Jan 00 - 07:20 PM As I understand it, once the British outlawed the Slave Trade they used the British Navy (at a bit of a loose end after the Napoleonic Wars were done)to put a blockade on slavers, especially on the West Coast of Africa, who were still trying to take slaves to Brazil and the United Staes (this was long before the Confederacy of course).
American ships trying to run the blckade were treated the same as any other ships, and seen essentially as pirates. Fair enough, they were half the time, and in any case they were in an even dirtier trade.
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Barbara Date: 27 Jan 00 - 01:53 AM For more of the story you could sing it with THE FLYING CLOUD. Blessings, Barbara |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Metchosin Date: 27 Jan 00 - 02:35 AM McGrath, my greatgrandfather served as a Royal Marine on the Spiteful, with two or three other ships from the British Navy, during a campaign up the Congo River, to blow up "pirate" enclaves of slave traders. I was once told, there was a book written about this campaign. I would love to know the title and author, as I would find it most interesting to know more of what he had the opportunity to see first hand. Do you know of any such book? |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 27 Jan 00 - 04:04 PM Sorry mate I've looked in my books and cannot find a reference to the HMS Spitefull; you may try the Royal Navy Museum in Portsmouth. I think they have a web site and may be able to put your library in touch with a reference site or book on the subject. Sorry but its not my area of expertise..Yours, Aye. Dave |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Metchosin Date: 27 Jan 00 - 05:59 PM Thank you for the effort Dave and for the Royal Navy Museum site. I have sent off a request to them. I could not find any references about the Spiteful's campaign in the early 1860's (wish I could remember the names of the other ships) on the net, just to a submarine in service now, with the same name. |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Metchosin Date: 27 Jan 00 - 06:19 PM as an afterthought and clarification, another way the British Navy used to stop the slave trade was not just to go after the slave ships, but to eliminate the "commodity" being traded. After a single shot was fired from the banks, the Navy went up the river and blew up all the villages with their cannons. |
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Subject: RE: Congo River: What are Black Sheep? From: Jon W. Date: 28 Jan 00 - 11:23 AM Say, I'll bet the inhabitants appreciated that! |
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